I read a short article about Eagle Gun Range in Lewisville, TX that is offering birthday parties for kids. The owner, David Prince, is marketing the state-of-the-art, air conditioned, and indoor 24 lane gun range as a place for family-friendly fun. The requirements for allowing your kid(s) to shoot there consist of them being at least eight years old, tall enough to get over the shooting table, and that each child shooting have an adult present, either a parent or a safety officer.

I can see how some folks would be immediately alarmed at the notion of having a bunch of excited children at a gun range, but once the overly sensationalized media headlines fade from your imagination, it actually seems like it could be a really cool way to further teach kids how to safely handle and shoot guns; the most important lesson being to never touch a gun without an adult being with them. It will be interesting to see if Mr. Prince’s business model takes off and we see a trend of other ranges offering similar family fun.

I’m not sure about a birthday party setting (though already having hearing protection on hand would be nice), but I know I would definitely take my daughter to a gun range at eight years old if it were available to us and she had an interest. Who else thinks this is a good idea, or who thinks it’s a bad idea and why?

Chris Costa’s new venture, Costa Ludus, has officially gone live with their new website launch this week. CostaLudus.com allows you to sign up for Chris’s classes, see his training schedule and also highlights other services provided by Costa Ludus such as product test and evaluation. I personally liked the training page, specifically his family history and his philosophy on the training he provides:

Due to my background, I found it fitting to choose the trident, shield and net to represent Costa Ludus. My family has been in the maritime industry for a very long time. My grandfather served in the Navy during World War 2; after the war, he was employed as a master rigger by Concordia Company, Inc. One of my uncles was a New England fisherman and tug engineer, while another uncle is a retired U.S. Coast Guard Vietnam veteran. My father retired from the U.S. Coast Guard with 20 years of service, and he is now a licensed Captain. I spent 12 years in the U.S. Coast Guard before joining the private sector at Applied Marine Technologies Inc. (AMTI).

Costa Ludus conducts training for the game of life, where the knowledge and skills learned in training may one day translate over to the streets or battlefield, determining life or death. We train others with the understanding that life is bigger than us. We understand the sacrifices that others make on a daily basis for our freedoms – that is why we take training so seriously.

Sincerely – Christopher Costa

The website is definitely worth checking out, and if you’re lucky enough to live near one of the areas on his training schedule, I would sign up–the prices may be a little higher but the quality of instruction will probably be the best you can get.

Travis Haley’s second Panteao production video after leaving Magpul Dynamics will be featuring the AK-47; so all of those who were wishing for a Magpul Ak-47 video, this is the closest your going to get. From the trailer below, it looks great. It seems that Haley applies his no-nonsense logic to firearms manipulation as he always does with his instruction. I’ll definitely be picking up a copy to review.

Here’s how Panteao Productions describes the video:

The Kalashnikov Rifle – misunderstood and underestimated by the media, often portrayed as inaccurate and unwieldy – is so widely adopted across the world it deserves fairer treatment by end users. The Adaptive Kalash training video introduces the viewer to the proper handling and usage of this rifle.

Special Operations Veteran Travis Haley guides you through the different types of AK rifle you may come across. Modifications and caliber choices are reviewed and discussed, so that you can find the best platform for your particular needs. Key points reviewed include correct loading techniques, safety manipulation, and dealing with malfunction. The common misconceptions surrounding the use of the AK platform at long ranges are addressed, along with establishing a zero that works for your situation.

Magpul is releasing their extremely popular Art of the Tactical Carbine again, but this time with a bunch of added footage, some “lost Costa interviews,” and it’ll be in 1080i. Check out the trailer below. Also, next month Magpul will be releasing their much anticipated Art of the Precision Rifle video.

I honestly hope don’t think there’s anything to worry about. Magpul Industries has almost a lock on the magazine market for the AR-15 along with all of its other extremely popular accessories. The name Magpul is now synonymous with quality and affordability and its the go-to accessory for any AR-15 owner. Both Travis and Chris are extremely marketable, and it would only make sense for them to venture out to create something of their own. Gunblog.com wishes them luck, and hopefully one day we’ll be able to attend one of their classes.

Below is the full press release from Magpul:

Chris Costa to Branch Out On His Own in 2012

Since 2007, Magpul Dynamics has trained thousands of professional and civilian shooters, and reached countless more through a comprehensive collection of instructional DVDs. With an emphasis on real world techniques, consistency, and efficiency, Magpul Dynamics has brought tactical instruction to the forefront of the shooting community. The application of these philosophies to high quality multimedia productions has helped propel the entire firearms training industry to new heights, garnering the attention of a larger audience than ever before.

The entire instructor cadre has been instrumental in the success of these endeavors, not the least of which has been Chris Costa. Chris will be moving on in early 2012 to pursue new projects within the industry, including his own training company. Magpul will continue to explore future opportunities to work with Chris, and looks forward to these projects. It has been a privilege to work with Chris for the last five years, and Magpul wishes him the best of luck in the future. The fundamentals of Reality, Consistency, and Efficiency that Chris helped instill are central to the entire Magpul Dynamics instructor cadre, and will continue to drive their training philosophy and mindset.